Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I call on the Acting Leader to request the Minister concerned to debate the issue of age and ageism, which I have raised previously. The people who created this Celtic tiger during bleak economic times have a right to have their issues raised. One of the key issues concerning older people is that of carers. I compliment the Minister concerned on increasing the carer's leave entitlement from 15 months to two years. A person in employment can now take two years' leave of absence to look after a person who does not want to go into residential home care or a person who sadly may have a short-term terminal illness. The employer does not have to pay the employee but the latter is entitled to reap the reward of having paid his or her PRSI. Such a carer is entitled to receive €180 per week. An important development is that the carer does not have to be related to the person who requires caring. In other words, the carer does not have to be a family member but simply a person who is defined by a doctor as being able to care for a person who needs medical care in his or her own home.